American Music Awards: TLC, Lil Mama perform lukewarm ‘Waterfalls’

TLC performs during the 2013 American Music Awards Sunday, November 24, 2013, in Los Angeles, CA.(Hans Gutknecht/Los Angeles Daily News)

TLC took the stage with a lukewarm rendition of “Waterfalls” at the American Music Awards on Sunday.

The hip-hop and R&B trio, which originally consisted of Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins, Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes and Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas, performed the group’s 1995 single with Lil Mama in place of the late Left Eye.

Lopes died in a 2002 car crash in Honduras at age 30.

On the red carpet before the awards show, Watkins admitted that she was terribly nervous and about to pee on herself just thinking of the performance, especially because they had to make some last minute-tweaks to the routine.

“But we’re going to do our thing,” she said with a smile.

“Waterfalls,” written by Lopes, was among TLC’s biggest hits as it spent seven weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was off TLC’s sophomore album, “CrazySexyCool,” that catapulted the ladies into stardom.

The VH1 biopic “CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story” aired Oct. 21 with Lil Mama playing the role of Left Eye. While Lil Mama’s performance in the made-for-TV film stunned critics, who doubted her ability to do the late rapper justice, Sunday’s performance did little to wow the crowd. It was a letdown as fans expected a special appearance by Left Eye via hologram, like other late greats Tupac, Ol’ Dirty Bastard and Eazy-E who have been featured at music festivals.

“It’s definitely something we thought about many, many, many years ago,” Thomas said.

“Way before Tupac,” Watkins chimed in.

But now, Watkins said it will likely happen in “Nevuary.”

“Emotionally, honestly, we can’t deal that,” Watkins said. “That’s just way too much right now.”

While TLC had been nominated for an American Music Award several times in 1993 and 1996, it wasn’t until 2000 when the ladies finally got to hold the prized award. TLC won for Favorite Band, Duo or Group — Soul/Rhythm & Blues. The biopic is scheduled to air again Nov. 28 on VH1.